keyed zither



C. H. MARX. 'man zum.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18| 1915. 1 ,304,997. Patented May 27,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. H. MARX.

KEYED ZITHER.

APPucATioN FILED Dsc. 1s. 191s.

Patented May 27,1919.

2 SHETS-TSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES' PATENT oEEIoE.

CHARLES H. MARX, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR To THE PHONOHARP COMPANY,

or EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OE MAINE.

REYED zITHER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented lVIay ,1919.

Application led December 18, 1916. Serial No. 137,483. Y'

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES H. MARX, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keyed Zithers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in stringed musical instruments of the autoharp, cithern and Zither types,'and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, combination and Operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set-forth and specifically claimed.

The principal obj ect of the invention is to provide a stringed musical instrument which has its strings on the under-side of the body thereof and which shall be portable and compact in form, simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable and efficient in operation, with its parts so constructed, arranged and operating as to provide a series of vibrating spring hammers for the strings of the instrument, which hammers may be manually7 operated so as to strike the'strings lonce or repeatedly in rapid Succession according tov the length of time the keys of the hammers may be depressed, thus producing tremolo or mandolin effect. Another object of the invention is to provide a Stop for the keyof each hammer or striker for the strings, so that, said hammers shallbe capable of striking their respective strings a single blow to produce a full clear note, and also of striking a number of times in quick succession to afford a sustained tremolo tone, or like that produced by a mandolin. A further object is to furnish an instrument of the above described general character, which may be of such construction, that the instrument and its casing, or carrying-case, co-act with each other, or are so related as to form a part of each other. A still further object is to greatly augment the volume of tone and to render more pleasingto the ear, the sounds or tones of .the instrument, over those of the types in general use at present. Still another Object is to provide means for readily modulating the tones or sounds of theinstrument.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the sub- ,oms'ed description `and explanation..

vention z- In the accompanying drawings which Serve to illustrate an embodiment of the in- Figure l, is a plan view of an open casing, or carrying case showing the Instrument Vmounted in thebody of the casing or case and forming a closure or part thereof, and

also yillustrating in full and dotted lines the holders for music sheets which may be used in connection with the linstrument.

Fig. 2, is a fragmental plan view of the rear end of theinstrument and part of the casing therefor, the. hinged cover for the keys being removed.

Fig. 3, is a view in elevation of the rear end of the Instrument and its casing or container, showing the member which carries vthe strings of the instrument' and the vi- Vbratory spring hammers or strikers raised .rear end has been raised when ready for use, as shown in Fig. 3, said figure also showing the .means for adjustably supporting the string carrying member or sounding board so as to modulate the sound or tones of the instrument.

Fig. 5, is an enlarged fragmental bottom plan view ofV the sounding board or the string and hammer carrying member, with said strings and-hammers mounted thereon.

Fig. 6, is a detached perspective view of ,one of :the keys and a part of one of the spring Shanks of the hammers which each of the keys carry. Y

Fig. 7, is a fragmental `view partly 1n sec- ,tion yand partly in elevation, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. l, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing a modification in the construction of the instrument with respect to its `keys and the stop therefor.

Fig. 8, is a detached perspectiveview of similar parts to that shown in Fig. 6, illustrating a Vmodification in the construction of the keys. Y y

Fi 9, is a Side or endv view of the pivotbar sowing a modification in' the construction of the keys and the means for stopA "ed'betweenisaid'holderand lid 16 asjwillbe ping the movement of the same so as to give vibration to the hammers.

"Fig. l:10 isa fr'agmental face Aview Yof ia portion of the pivotlbariforzthe keys.

Fig. 11, is an enlarged view partly in sec-l tion and partly in elevation of a fragment of the pivot bar and a part of one of the keys Vshowing'the 'means ifor supporting and securing the latter on Lthe Alformer, and for keeping the keys from rattling.

iFig. i12, is 'a gface viewofachartlor sheet --which may befusedinconnection with the 3:Like Enumerals-of reference v.refer -to corresponding parts throughout the different views Vof the drawings.

The reference numeral 15 designates the vbox-'like casing which may be Aprovided with Va-lid yorcover ls'ecure'd thereto at one of its edges by means of hinges g17 o'rv otherwise `so as l`to fclose Ethe :casing 115 when desired. The casing 15 Ina-y `be provided with a 'handle 18 and-sockets 19=atone oflits edges or sides, said sockets -being for the `recepition iof catches V2() rwhich are mounted :at

suitable points'onthe sid`e=oredge offthelid 16ft0 engagefthe sockets =1'9 Vwhen said lid is turned tothe position to close fthe case or casing. Wien'the lid-16 is employedit may be provided with a "holder 21 for the reception 'of music v`she`ets`22 which can be insertreadily understood by reference vto' `Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. lA similar device for a llike `purpose lm ay he jmounted on Athe inner `surface `'of the lbottom ofthe casing :15, as

shown :by dot-ted linesin Fig. 1,: when Lthe Llid -v16 is Vnot used. Y 4

lAs shown in Figs. land 4 of the drawings the soundingboardor string and 'hammer Vcarrying member 23 vis located vwithin the casing 1 5 vand fis secured thereto at one of its endsby meansjofhinges 24er otherwise, sothat it canbe tilted -or inclined as shown in Figs. d and 7 of the drawings, o-r if desired can 'be Aturned Von Yits hinges or jfasteners so as to reverse its position'to enable the strings carried thereby to 'be turned 'and other Vparts Vmounted"th`e`r'eon to lbe adjusted or repaired. The rear `endof the sounding board or member 23 is vprovidedon its upper surface with a knob 25 ito'be'used 'for lifting and adjusting said member, with respect to the sounding box or casing 1'5 and :said board can be held in 'its-adjusted positions by 'means of a support V26 and a Ypair of blocks `27 one of whih is securedto each side of the casing 15 near its rear end. Each of the 'bloc-ksi27 isjp'rovi'd'ed 'with a series of notches 28 t0- receive `the lower portionpf the support 26 which'formssubstantially 'three sides of a rectangular ligure when viewed from the rear end of the instrument "and which has its' ends jpivotallysecured Vto the sides of 'the sounding board 23 near themrear end thereof. The upper portion of'eah of the blocks 27 is horizontally disposed to afford a rest for the board23 when "in'it's lowered or normal position, and Veach of said blocksmay have 1n its upper portion a notch 28 to receivethe lower portion of the support 26, which latter'notchesareemiployedV when it is desired to support the "board 23 in'itsuppermost position for playing 'eXtra loud. vMounted trans-versely on 'the lower portion-of'the'member or sounding board 23--is a strip of ffelt'29 or other cushioning amate-rial which -is employed for the purpose tobepresently explained. Near -its rear end the-board or'member v23 is provided'on its lower surface with a number ofhitch f pins or screws 30 to which the strings 31 of the iinstrument-'are*secured at their rear ends, the'other endsfof said stringsbeing secured to .tuning posts 32'which are securedV to the lower surface ofthe boardor member 23 instead of being arranged in the ordinary v.or well lknown Yway used onsimilar instru- 'mentsheretofore.Y The strings l31 are supported on bridges 33 and 34 mounted onfthe lower-surface of the'board or-member 23 and said strings may be tuned by meansofa fkey 35 which is for -engagementwith the Y 'tuning posts 32 in the ordinary way. In order 4"that the Ytunin, f=key 35-maybe always keptlin'a convenient place Vfor 'use the front end-of the casing 15'is-provided with-a-hook a pair of Vparallel bars 37 which are eXtendedacross the -floor or bottom ofthe casing and are spaced apart as shown. "Securedto the Vopposite "sidesV of the bars 37 Vand eX tended over and acrossjthe same is a piece Aof eXlble material 38 'which extends from one of the sides of the casing 15 tothe other, so as to form a pneumatic chamber 39 between 'theibars 37, the supporting material '38 ,and 'the bottom or `floor ofthe casing. This arrangementisfusedlto arrest the vibralllO tions 'of Lthe hammer heads after being Y manipulated and as a support -for'the hammers orstrikers ofthe instrument as vwill be readily understood by 'reference to Figs. 4 and 7 of the drawings.

Secured transversely tothe rear end of the board or :member 23, is a pivot-baror 'supporting-bar 40 jwhich baris by preference made of metal andzproj'ects slightly. above and below l`the'up'} er lower surfacesre?La lstrip may also show groupedV strings tuned to produce chords. AsV will be clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 10 of the drawings the bar 40 is provided with a series of openings 41 which are located in a horizontal row near the lower edge of the bar 40, and each of said openings has its upper portion larger than its lower portion. Itwill also be seen that they bar 40is provided with rearward and upwardly extended projections 42 near its lower edge and that each of'these proj ec tions is provided with a character, such as, f

X, on its face. The `openings 41 in the pivot-bar are for the-reception and retention of the keys 43 for the vibrating spring hammers one ofwhichis vemployed to strike two strings in the melody section of the instrument. Each of the keys '43 is made of non-resilient or stiff material and iswformed near Vits'middleon each of its Sides with a notch 44 to receive lthe vertical walls 45 of the openings 41V inthe pivot-bar. -Each of the keys 43 is provided forwardly of the notches v44 therein 'with a pair of clips 46, and at their front ends with another pair of clips 47 which clips are for the purpose of clamping or holding the Shanks 48 of the hammers-49 which'shanks are made of resilientmaterial such as thin strips of -steel or metal. By means of these clips", which can be bent so asy to clamp the Shanks 48 on the hammers, it is' apparent that Said Shanks will be firmly secured to the keys longitudinally thereon in such a waythat theportions of the Shanks projecting forwardly from the clips* 47 vwill have great resiliency or vibration when the keys are depressed and suddenlystopped. As shown in Figs. 4, 7, 9 and 11, the rear portions of the Shanks 48 are located beneath the lower edge of the pivot-supporting bar 40 and as y said portions are resilient they will clamp ythe keys 43 lon said bar in Such a way as to prevent vertical, dislocation thereof. The vertical vwalls 45 of the holes 41 in the Apivotbar 40 will prevent lateral movement of the keys, as is apparent. To insert the keys in y the `openings 41, of the pivot-bar therefor,

the rear ends of the keys are laced in the enlarged portions of the openings 41 from the front surface of the pivot-bar, and the rear port-ions. of the Shanks 48 are placed bevneath the lower edge of said bar. z Now by forcing the keys rearwardly until the notches 44 therein are in position to receive the walls 45 Aofthecontracted.portions of the openings 41, it is obvious .that the keys may .be pressed downwardly between said walls so as to rest on the bottom edge of the Aopenings 41, in which position they will be pivotally retained by the spring action of Vthe Shanks.` As the'keys must be stopped VSuddenly in their movement in order to cause vibration of the hammers 49 on the Shanks 48, it is necessary to provide means for such sudden stoppage, and also to provide means to prevent the hammers resting against the strings, and this can be done in numerous ways. In Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings, I have shown each of thekeys provided near its front end with a stop 50 which is by preference punched out. of the strip which forms the key, said Stop which is punched out is Small enough to pass between the strings without touching so it will not interfere with their vibration, and is extended upwardly at a right-angle thereto, and located on the lkey at a proper position to dottedl linesy in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In-

stead of using the above described Stops 50 for the keys, I may omit them from the latter andprovide the Sounding board 23 with a transversely extended Stop 51 which may be padded on its lower surface and held at a suitable distance below the board 23 by means of blocks 52 secured to the lower surface of the board 23 at its side edges, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 7 ofthe drawings. In Fig. 9, ,I have shown still another modification in the Stop for the keysy which consists in providing the ,lower portion of the pivot-*bar 40 with a rearwardly extended horizontal portion 40n4 against the rear edge of which the keys 43 will Strike when depressed as shown by dotted linesy in the last-named figure. Hinged at one of its edges to the upper edge of the pivot-bar 40 is a plate 53 which serves as a cover for the front end of the keys 43 when in the position shown in Fig. 1.of the drawings, and acts as a holder for the musicsheet or Sheets 54 when raised to the kposition shown in Figs. 4 and 7 in which position Said plate will be sustained by the handle( or knob 25 on the sounding board. As itmay sometimes be desirable to omit the lid orl cover 16 of the carrying case 15, the Vrear portion of the sounding board or member23 is provided near each yof its corners with a pivoted catch 55 to engage pins 56 on the casing 15 in order to hold the board or member 23 in its closed position and so as Vto form a closure for the casing 15 of the sounding box.

From the foregoing, and by reference to the drawings, it will be clearly understood and readilyseen that by reason of the improvements set forth a very compact and portable instrument will 'be afforded, which is self-contained or in other words, the carrying casing and the instrument co-act with each other in such a manner as to form essential parts of Athe instrument. By the novel and improved construction which is size. -Ii'iitisv desired tozlessen the weight of :the casing, the 'lid 16, may. `be= omitted, :when

as above 4set forth Vthe--soi'mdin-g board or member-'may be Vemployed *asa closure for the' casing or sounding box thus faord- 10 of the -character Y described, which yis. ready ing i'a 'complete stringed Smusicaly instrument for instant use, land ,can be closed `for transportation or shipment in such a manner that theparts ofthe instrument will beprotected and prevented vfrom -vibration for from producing sounds. VFor it will be understood thatfthe-hammers 4:9 will rest on the stop 'or-cushion 38, in such-a wayas to vprevent them striking the stringshinftheordinary handling ofthe instrument when theE sounding board y23 isin'its closed position.

Referring now to Fig. 3, of the drawings, it will be understood that the'- keyshown to the left of'each of the groupswill strike the fheavy'orlowest Ybass string of the chord, and the key to the Vright of each of the -groups distinguished by a'dot below the numeral, will strike theotherthree strings constituting the remainder ofthe chord.: The strings of the chord section are placed Vso as to allow thestop' gtopassthem without touching and consequently -nterfering with the vibrationof said strings.

In the foregoing description, that end of theV instrument adjacent tol the' player or operatorhas been designated as the rear end, and this term has been used for the sake of clearness-and without any intention of limitation,Y Y. g 4

It will ,bedistinctly understood and Vclearly seen that` by my improvements, stringed musical instrument having the strings mounted-on and below thesounding Y board or string carryingmember'of the instrument is provided, and thatthe striking c 1members'or hammers are also carried'by and f beneath said sounding board or member and arranged to strike the strings of thep'instrument on'the bottom of said stringsand with an upward stroke or strokes of the Ykey or keys of the instrument, which-are mounted fand equipped Efor such'movement at or near theirgrear ends. It is V`further obvious that thecarrying casing 15, forms notv only 'a re ceptacle Vfor the instrument by vmeans of which it will be protected and can'be transported or carried, butlalso provides a sounding. box which by: reason of the relation therewith of the sounding board or member '23' and its #musica-l strings, Ywill augment sounds or tones of lthe instrument, which sounds or 4tones can Vbe readily modulated fromsoft tonesor sounds to louder ones ,by

.. simple inclination.jand adjustment .of .the

' sou nding. board{ or member with respect -to the casing' or ,sQundin'gbox..

To enable,- onewho l is. fnot notes, 'QF play-V pieces on, this instrument, jI

directly beneatlr theg` 4vsame should l be de- 'lpr-essed.v The first circular spot represents the first noteofthe .piece being played, the `second circular' -spotthe second note, Vthe third circularsp'ot vthethird note, and so on. Y The A'small dots beside "the y circles` represent the-timeor the number iof-beatsfeach circular spot is to receiver-and vthe numeral beside some of thespots indicate vwhich correspondv ing chord keyis to bev struck at the same time, thus fthefmelody. 1 f

producing the accompaniment to :while frhavjefiiiuarata and described an tion asset vforth and disclosed-but des-ire to avail 4myself of such variations, modifications andfmodesj of its `useas come within 'the scope lof .thev appended claims. 1,

famiiiafl-iviih i Shave provided-achart, (-see .F ig. 12), Thisj `chartfisgtobe placedabovethe keys 23,so that-the charactersuch 'as 4X, on. the' chart "will :register fwith the clips 42. V.'lhen, begin .reading at fthe arrow on the chart and- Vfollow -thejcontin-uqus line to the end. wher-5.,;- ever thev1^ef fis; ar blacks-.circular `.spot f .the key Having thus .fullywdescribed my invention,

what Izclaimas new 'and Letters Patent is` Y i i a t i fl. The combination of a'zither, means for supporting said Zither in an 'inverted Yposition with the' strings beneath the body theredesire to fsecure by Y of, a plurality of keys' lin operative relation tothe-Zither below thel strings,.and hammers 1 associated with said -keys forestriking the strings. Y

2. The Vcombination of a lZither, `means for supporting said-Zither in an inverted v=posi tion with the strings beneath thebody thereof, a plurality of keys Lin operative relation to said Zither and extending lengthwise of and belowthe strings, a pivot member attached tothe Zither-and arranged crosswise of thev'strings and pivotallysupporting said keysintermediate of the ends thereof,v spring hammers projectingffrom 'the rear ends of said keys, and a stop to arrest the'said keys,

upon depression of thefront endsthereof.

3. The combination of a Zither, means for supporting saidY z'itherfin an inverted position with thel strings'beneath the body theretached i'to'ffthe v.hither -and 4afr'range'd c'rosswiseA of, a plurality of keys extending lengthwise ,i

of the strings for pivotally supporting said keys intermediate of the ends thereof, the front ends of said kevs projecting forwardly beyond the front end of the said Zither, spring hammers projecting rearwardly from the rear ends of said kevs, and stops for arresting the movements of said keys in opposite directions about said pivot member.

4. The combination with an inverted Zither having the strings beneath the body thereof, of a plurality of manually operated hammers operatively associated with said zitherand extending longitudinally of the strings for playing the same, and legs for supporting said Zither in position for the operation of the hammers.

5. The combination with an inverted Zither having the strings beneath the body thereof, of a plurality of manually operated hammers operatively associated with said Zither and extending longitudinally of the strings for .playing the same, and folding legs for supporting said Zither in position for the operation of the hammers.

6. The combination of an inverted Zither having the strings below the body thereof, a plurality of keys and associated spring hammers arranged below the strings, means for supporting said keys and hammers in operative relation to theV strings, a casing having a bottom wall and end and` side walls,means hinging the Zither to the rear end wall of said casing so as when closed to lie normally within said end and side walls in substantial parallelism with said bottom wall, and supporting means for supporting the front end of said Zither when opened in a raised position. Y

7. A stringed musical instrument consisting of a carrying-case and a board connected thereto vfor movement to and from said case, musical strings mounted on the lower surface of the board and means carried by the board to play upon said strings..

8. In a stringed musical instrument, the combination with a box-like case, of a board movably conneted to said case and adapted` to close the same, musical strings mounted on said board and means carried by the `board to play upon said strings.

9. A carrying-case having an opening therein and a stringed musical instrument connected to said case so as to movably operate in said opening whereby the case will act as a sounding-box to increase the volume of the tone of the instrument, and means to modulate the tone or sounds of the instrument.

10. A carrying-case having an opening therein and av stringed musical instrument connected to said case so as to movably operate in said opening whereby the case will act as a sounding-box to increase the volume of the tone of the instrument, and means to adjustably support the instrument within the case.

11. Acarrying-casehaving an opening therein and a stringed musical instrument connected to said case so as to movably operate in said opening whereby the case will act as a sounding-box to increase the volume of the tone of the instrument, a depending support mounted on the instrument near one of its ends to adjustably support said instrument within the opening of the case.

12. A carrying-case having an opening therein and a stringed musical instrument connected to said case so as to movably operate in said opening whereby the case will act as a sounding-box to increase the volume of the tone of the instrument, a depending support pivotally mounted on the instrument near one of its ends, and a notched block within the case below the instrument to engage said support.

13. A carrying-case having an opening therein and a stringed musical instrument connected to said case at one of its ends so as to movably operate in said opening whereby the box will act as a sounding-box to increase the volume of the tone of the instrument, a depending support pivotally mounted on the instrument near its free end, and a rearwardly and upwardly beveled block within the case below the instrument and having means on its beveled surface to engage said support.

14. A carrying-case having an opening therein and a stringed musical instrument connected to said case at one of its ends so as to movably operate in said opening whereby the case will act as a soimding box to increase the volume of the tone of the instrument, a depending support pivotally mounted on the instrument near one ,of itsends, and a rearwardly beveled block within the case at each side thereof below the instrument, each 'block having a plurality of notches to receive said support. e

15. A stringed musical instrument consisting of a case and a board connected thereto for movement toward and from said case, musical strings strung on the lower surface of the board, a series of vibratory spring hammers mounted on the rear end of the board and operable to strike the lower surface of said strings, and means to support the board at a distance from the fioor of the case.

16. A stringed musical instrument consisting of a case having a cushioned hammer stop extended across the upper surface of its floor near one end thereof, a board connected at one of its ends to the end of the case opposite said stop for pivotal movement toward and from said case, musical strings strung ,on the lower surface of the board, and a series of vibratory spring hammers mounted on the rear end of the board and operable to strike the lower surface of said strings and adapted to normally rest on said stop.

'17. Y The Vcombination vvithaportable case having a haminer rest mounted across the floorY of the vcase near. one endVv thereof, off a stringed musical instrument connected With said .case atpone ofy its ends, av series ofvibratoryl springV hammersV mounted on the in- Y strument so as to becapable of striking theV strings andnormally lying Ion the rest.

18. The combination with. the body of-a` stringed musicalv instrument having. its strings "strung onthe bottom, a series of vibratory springhammers mounted at its rear.

end, said hammers having projectionsvvhich pass between'the strings when the hammers yare manipulated andengage the body of the instrument, said proJections acting` as stops -j and preventing the hammer heads from restingon the strings, thus causing Ythem to vi-V brate and strike the strings repeatedly, pre1 ducing tremolo.

19. The combination With a stringed musical instrument, of a pivot-bar4 arranged. thereon transversely of thestrings andhaving a series of openings therein, said openings being larger in their.. upper portions than in their lowerV portions and havingA vertical Walls inv their lower. parts, a key.- located in eachof said openings andi each`V Y portedl by said keys and meansbetiveen the keys and the body Vof the instrument for.

stopping and holding the hammers Vaway from 'the-strings.

' 21; Thecombination Withlastringedmusical instrument, ofapivo't barhav-ing an Vopening therein provided vvithY vertical Walls,

Copies of 'this patent Vmay .be .obtained for,

afke locatedin said: opening.. and:- having a` note iin each ofv its edges :infront offits nf.;

ger. piece to receive the vertical Walls of said opening, aaspringishank fastened'to" said key and 'extended at its. rear portion.' under t and against the `pivot barftosteady and easeV the fall of the key, and a hammer on the' front end of said shank.

22. VThe combination With an under, strung stringedmusical4 instrument, of a case connected to saidv instrument so as to permit of their movement toward-or froinreach other and sothat the casingpvvill receive said in-A strument, aplurality .off vibratory springVv hammers operatively..'mounted onv one en dof the body of the instrument andiadapted to strike said strings, and. a hammer. rest arrangedfor-engagement by.V the heads Vof saidhammers, said rest. comprising a. pair ofspaced apart bars transversely mounted" on the Hoor. of: the casing. forwardly of' thepoints atWhich the hammers.' are mounted on the instrument, and=alayerof 'cushioning material stretched across saidbars andfseparatedfrom theloor of thecasingby aclosed chamber. y' Y 23.-A key for. stringed; musical instruments consistingof a nonsfieXible piece provided with` means lfoi-securing thereto a re-Vv silient shankV or.stem, said stem*k engagingsaidsecuring means andeXtended 1 longitudinally Withrespect tothe key, a hammer on the freefendv of the-stein, said'keyhaving.a`

projection extended at an angle therefroi'n` to-jpass between/the. strings lof the instru# ment andv tol strike the body thereof, so asf to act as astop andprevent'thehammerfrom remaining on the Strings thus allowing they Y hammer to vibrate`4 ands strike the string l.re-

peatedly for. the.. purpose. of producingA tremolo.' Y l v 1 GHARLESJH,

VVitness-s-y j` Y Cites. CiTfiLnMAml f Vfvecencs each, by.addressing;the..FGoIrunissioner dira/tents,` Washington, DQACJ- 

